Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-01-13


finae the things were taxa; she may
have got rid Of them in Lnnnsn. if
was when you took her TO town that
your diamond bruOch went
$50 1t WAS" said Lady Hayward.
s.E3ut that makes no difference. The
brooch Was taken while we were away.
Besides, the thing is absurd. Taylor
is above suspicion. knew the girl SD
well. Why, Vernon. she went with me
all through France and Italy. when i
Joined you in Rome; we were always
together, and / used to talk to her
great deal. She is u very superior girl.
No: it would be most unjust to suspect
Taylor"
..Wefl. there's no one else." said
Lord Hayward. tlejectedly. ''exeept
poor little Rose Mannering."
..Poor little Rose Mannering" was
the governess who took charge of their
one little girl.
"Absurti.'' said Lady Hayward.
And So it was. OH the face of it. They
knew Rose Mannering's family we'll;
she was o lady, and little more than
child.
A silence followed, during which
both looked into the fire for inspira-
ton. All the servants In the house
were born Of families who had been
for generations ON the estate. The
idea Of suspecting any Of them was
too painful. Taylor was the only ex-
ception. aud she had been with Lady
Hayward two years.
'I begin to believe" said Lady Hay
ward. ..that it is one Of onr guesto."
"GoOd heavens, Kate, what an idea!''
Scan You suggest any thing eisee"
'.NO. Ican't. There's some internal
deyiltry at work. but, beat my brains
how will, / can't see where it comes
FROM
al tell you what we must do. YER
non," said Lady Hayward. decisiveiy.
1--WE must be very careful. not frighten
| any one, and keep our own counsel
Ride over tO the town early tomorrow
morning and telegraph to Scotland
Yard for detective To- come down dis
guised to- the ball. There viii be SD
many people the servants won't have
time To notice him. He must stop on
as a visitor till he finds out something"
ssThat will dor exclaimed Lord Hay
! ward.
snow co." said Lady Hayward, ring
ing the bell for Taylor; al must dress
I at once"
/ As he went out he met the maid in
the doorway, and gave her a more
curious look than usual. The result
was oaly To give up his idea as pre-
posterous. She had a very gentle, COOL
face;. her soft brown hair, brushed
smoothly over her ears. gave it an
almost Puritanical hook. Lord Hay
ward had made something of friend
Of her, and the girl had never presumed
in the least upon il, but had always re-
tanned her. subdued, sweet manner.
Lady Hayward scrutinized her, too,
during the process of dressing. but she
shrank from the thoughts in her own
mind. She had grown fond Of her
Of herself for her quickly suppressed
suspicious.
Early next morning the telegram was
sent to Scotland yard by Lord Hay
ward, who rode over alone so send it,
and waited for the answer. The reply
seemed to please him and he rode back
in good spirits to late breakfast. He
even faced, with moderate cheerfulness
Lady Hayward's eldest sister, who was
in Il frightful state about her necklace.
This lady was one Of his pet aversions;
she was not pretty or clever, like his
wife, but she was more irreproachable,
more moral, more perfect, and she was
an old maid. Probably she was the
only person in the world of whom Lady
Hayward was afraid. Miss Collette
was u severe censor in all things and
kept her eyeghss well fixed on her
younger sister, who had. an important
position to fill before the world. AT
present Miss Collette was very angry
because she did not know what was be-
ing done about the thefts; and she held
that she ought to have been one of the
council. But Lady Hayward was OBJ
stinate; she had found out before that
the exemplary Cecilia could not hold
her tongue.
This extreme discretion having been
observed, the Scotland Yard detective
arrived, as visitor, and no one paid
any particular attention to him. He
was very quiet and adopted the charac-
ter of the man who does not dance, or
talk or do any thing, and it answered
admirably. a number of other men
with superb shirt fronts hung abb ut the
doorways and looked bored; Mr.. Hawk
was admirably gotten up for the pur-
pose, and had only to mingle with these
others and look as bored us they. Lady
Hayward was delighted ut this excel
| nffoo Of
her eye on him with great interest.
She managed to speak to him very late.
fwhen the party was breaking up. He